The charming cat has enchanting eyes due to a unique condition called sectoral heterochromia. This means that each iris of its eyes has two different colors in the same region.
While we may have come across cats with mismatched eyes, known as complete heterochromia, where each iris has a different color, this cat’s condition is distinct. The name “heterochromia iridis” originates from Greek and means “differently colored irises.”
Have you ever wondered how cats end up with such peculiar eye colors? It turns out that a cat’s genes are responsible for pigmentation, which determines the color of their eyes. Interestingly, all kittens are born with blue eyes, and their true eye color starts to show between 7-12 weeks old. This color is determined by the amount of melanin that enters the iris, and blue eyes occur when no melanin is present.
It’s interesting to note that cats who have this particular condition are usually either completely white or have some white patches on their fur. These furry friends are undeniably amazing to look at, and sometimes dogs can also have the same condition!
This cat has a fabulous pair of eyeballs, but there is a perfectly normal explanation. The technical name for the condition is sectoral heterochromia, a genetic mutation that causes one iris to contain two completely different colours https://t.co/3zKfiyl6mp pic.twitter.com/c1dCJKD9uT
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) July 9, 2020
Check out some more adorable cats with this unique characteristic.
I want to mention that even though your cat’s eyes are stunning, it’s crucial to consult your veterinarian if you notice a change in their eye color after they reach maturity. Keep in mind that the healthy development of eye color is usually finished during a kitten’s first 12 weeks. Any alteration in color after that could be caused by inflammation, iron build-up, or blood in your cat’s eyes.